Unequal Gains

American Growth and Inequality Since 1700

"Unequal Gains offers a radically new understanding of the economic evolution of the United States, providing a complete picture of the uneven progress of America from colonial times to today."--Provided by publisher.

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I found the book very enlightening, although I did only scan some of the technical explanations of the data collection. There was vastly greater equality [leaving out women and slaves, of course!!] of opportunity, income and wealth at the founding than in any other place in the world. From other research I've done, the Framers of the Constitution did worry about wealth accumulations for the future. [As the saying goes, they are "rolling over in their graves" at what has happened.]

I think the book informs our understanding of the economic situation at the founding and also ways in which the creation of the Constitution may have been influenced by that situation.

I have yet to read this book, but from the description:
// While other economic historians base their accounts on American wealth, Peter Lindert and Jeffrey Williamson focus instead on income--and the result is a bold reassessment of the American economic experience.\\
This is patently absurd, as true wealth can never be measured by income when considering the rich and the super-rich, it must focus on wealth and assets!